odology

English

Etymology

Coined by John Brinckerhof Jackson, from Ancient Greek ὁδός (hodós, “road, path, way”) +‎ -logy.

Noun

odology (uncountable)

1. (rare) The study of roads or paths.
   • 2003, Chris Wilson, Everyday America: Cultural Landscape Studies After J. B. Jackson:

     Emphasizing the importance of the road as a central force in human affairs and underscoring the interdisciplinary scope and sociological underpinnings of his approach, Jackson proclaimed: “Odology is the science or study of roads or journeys and, by extension, the study of streets and superhighways and trails and paths, how they are used, where they lead, and how they come into existence.

Alternative forms

• hodology